If you’re visiting Florence for more than 2 or 3 days, you should definitely make a pitstop in Pisa as part of your Italy trip. The Piazza del Duomo, aka the Cathedral Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known most famously for the Leaning Tower. The square is also home to three other monuments, all of which stand out from the rest of the city for their white marble construction and medieval architecture. The area is also known by a more informal name, Piazza dei Miracoli – the Square of Miracles.

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Transportation

It’s super easy to make a quick day trip out to Pisa – or if you’re like us, just a morning excursion – thanks to the robust train network in Italy. There are around 50 trains that run between Florence and Pisa on a daily basis, so about one every 20-30 minutes. In Florence you’ll hop on a train at Santa Maria Novella station. After just under an hour you’ll arrive at Pisa Centrale, a historic station and major train hub in Tuscany region.

On a nice day, you could walk from the train station to the Cathedral Square in about 20-25 minutes. But it was a bit chilly when we went, so we opted to hop on a bus instead. There’s a bus stop conveniently located right outside the train station. To get to the square, you’ll want to get on the Line 1 bus. Individual tickets can be purchased inside the train station or at newsstands around the city and are good for 70 minutes. Make sure to validate your ticket once you get on the bus!

If you’re flying into the city, Pisa International Airport is about a 5 minute shuttle or 10-15 minute bus ride from Pisa Centrale station.

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Exploring the Cathedral Square

Tickets

There are a few different ticket options and prices to choose from, depending on which sites you’d like to see. Only two of them include a timed entry to the Leaning Tower: Complete + Tower and Cathedral + Tower. You can buy tickets up to 15 days in advance, either online or in person. Buying tickets on site the day of is not recommended during peak summer tourist season. Be aware that children under 8 years old are not permitted to enter the Tower. You will be asked for proof of age, so be sure to have that on hand.

Avoid bringing a bag if possible, as you won’t be allowed to bring it into the Tower with you. You’ll be asked to store it at the cloakroom in the check-in area. This includes small bags like cross-body purses. Make sure to check in at least 15 minutes before your scheduled Tower time.

The Sites

The Leaning Tower

Since we had a timed ticket, our first stop was the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Constructed out of white marble, the bell tower is 8 stories tall and was completed in 1372 – nearly 200 years after construction began. The tower’s signature lean was caused by the soft soil it was built on and foundation settling. So much work has been put in over the years to stabilize it and the lean has successfully been reduced from 5 degrees to just under 4.

Make sure you’re wearing supportive shoes when you visit (no flip-flops!) because there are so. many. stairs. I felt like I was in pretty decent shape, but by the time we made it to the top (about 300 steps later) I thought my legs were going to fall off. On top of the stairs being steep, they’re also VERY slippery from the stone being worn down by the thousands of daily visitors. The stairwell is very narrow, wide enough for only one person at a time. This means nobody can come down until everyone else has made their way up. There are spaces every so often to step to the side if you get winded, so as to not hold everyone else up.

It was such a clear day that from the top you could see for miles! You’ll find a number of bells surrounding the top of the Tower which no longer swing, instead ringing via electronics. In the 1950s the swinging bells were deemed a little too risky, with the possibility of them throwing off the balance of the already leaning tower.

Pisa Baptistery

Not only is the Battistero di San Giovanni the largest baptistery in Italy, but apparently it’s also the largest in the entire world. It might sound obvious based on the name, but for those of you like me that aren’t religious – a baptistery is a church where baptisms occur. The architecture of the building is beautiful, as well as practical – the double dome inside helps to boost the acoustics.

Campo Santo

Also known as the Camposanto Monumentale or “monumental cemetery”, this was the last building constructed in the Piazza del Duomo. Construction began in 1278 and wasn’t completed until 1464. Built over an existing burial ground, the Campo Santo is home to a number of frescos and sepulchers (burial monuments).

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Planning a trip to Pisa, Italy?
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For Next Time

We only spent the morning here, so we didn’t venture much into the actual city surrounding the Cathedral Square. But I’ve heard they have a good amount of restaurants and nightlife options to choose from if you decide to stay for the day or overnight! These are a few of the spots on my list for our next visit to Pisa, Italy.

Food & Drinks

L’Ostellino – Piazza Felice Cavallotti, 1, 56126 Pisa
Sandwiches and charcuterie boards

Tuffo 13 Gelateria – Lungarno Gambacorti, 13, 56125 Pisa.
Gelato

Trattoria Sant’Omobono – Piazza S. Omobono, 6, 56126 Pisa.
Authentic Tuscan cuisine

Barrique Cocktail and Bistrot – Via Domenico Cavalca, 7, 56126 Pisa.
Cocktail Bar and Italian/Vegetarian cuisine

Attractions

Orto e Museo Botanico – Via Luca Ghini, 13, 56126 Pisa.
The oldest recorded botanical garden in the world!

Borgo Stretto – from Garibaldi Square, 56126, Pisa.
Historic (and expensive) main shopping street.

Museo delle Navi Antiche di Pisa – Lungarno Ranieri Simonelli, 16, 56126 Pisa.
Museum of Ancient Ships, located in the restored Medici Arsenals.

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What should I do during my next visit to Pisa, Italy? Let me know in the comments!